The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-10
BOYCoTTERs CONVICTED.
A Judicial Designation of Facts That Con-
stitute Conspiracy.

A Judicial Designation of Facts That Con-
stitute Conspiracy.
Washington Special
There is CONSERVATION among union men in
this city because seven members of the WASH
ington Musical Assembly and one journeyman
tailor, also member of the Knights of Labor,
were convicted of conspiracy to-day in the po-
lice court. They were sentenced to pay fine
of $50 each, or In default to be imprisoned for
thirty days
This was case Of boycott against a member
of the Musical Union named Kraus and his band
for the non-payment of fine imposed by the
assembly for some violation of its rules. The
judge, in very interesting opinion. after quot
ing numerous legal authorities to show what
constituted conspiracy and to prove that
tual violence was not necessary in committing the
offense alleged, said
''No question is made in this case as to the
rights of laboring men to do all they to i'm
prove their condition, increase their wages, and
protect themselves against the domination of
capital or capitalists by all lawful and peaceable
means, including all forms of organizations. In
union there is strength. The theory of our in
situations is that every man is to have all the
liberty consistent with another mans liberty,
which permits him to exercise all his natural
rights and to his property as he pieases.
provided he does not injure another mans rights
or invade another mans property
1.-THE present case shows that Kraus and his
associates were musicians and members of the
Washington Musical Assembly, that he
fined, and suspended for pay ment of the
fine, and that there was meeting of the assem-
bly, and measures instituted to enforce the pay
ment of the fine. Committees. consisting of
these defendants some appearing at one place
and others at different points, in pursuance of
instructions, visited er-gardens. steamboats,
and restaurants for the purpose Of securing the
employment osrensibly of union music. In this
there was no violation o. law, but if this were
not their real purpose. but a pretense. the case
is different
eve only judge by what they actually
did. Kraus had refused to pay his fine, and it
had been decided by a vote of the assembly to
discipline him and compel the payment of the
fine, and force his submission to tho rules OF the
assembly, or il the language of Wilde to down
him'-uot by due process of the law. but by the
instrumentalites Of annoyance to his business,
and in reference by requesting and persua aiding
his employers to discharge him and his asso-
ciates and to employ them-i e., the Washing
ton Musical Assembly music or union music.
IF the committee made up of these defendants
went to the patrons of Kraus and told them that
Kraus was not in good standing in the COM
munity or elsewhere. had been suspended by
the Washington Musical Assembly, was a scab
and had scab music, with the design to preju-
dice him in his business as musician, and
secure his discharge when employed and pre-
vent his employment by others; il by such
influences and by offering pecuniary induce
to make future engagements with him in rela-
ton to his business; or il they talked about
boycott and ten thousand sixty thousand
men back of them, that the employment of
Kraus might be derogatory to business; if such
talk was made with the purpose to create fear.
charge of kraus and his associates, or prevent
his employ whether the purpose was actu-
ally accomplished or not, the acts unlawful
acts, within the meaning of the law. and make
the participants guilty of conspiracy"
The defendants noted an appeal.